Washing machine



Oct 16, 1962 F. w. GRANTHAM 3,058,330

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1o, 1959 e sheets-sheet 1 um G f W www Oct. 16, 1962 F. w. GRANTHAM WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. l0, 1959 INVENTOR.

A fr0/N276 VIII Oct. 16, 1962 F. w. GRANTHAM WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. l0, 1959 0535@ 75 sraP H llrLrlIrI/k Oct. 16, 1962 F. w. GRANTHAM 3,058,330

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 10, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 OPE/PA TUVE- HO/ZON 7' A L Oct. 16, 1962 F. w. GRANTHAM 3,058,330

WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. l0, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 16, 1962 Filed Feb. 10, 1959 F. W. GRANTHAM WASHING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fly. lf

BY fw@ 3,053,330 WASHING MACI Frederick W. Grantham, 1680 Vine St., Hollywood 2S, Calif. Filed Feb. 1G, 1959, Ser. No. 792,362 4 Claims. (Cl. 68-58) This invention relates to washing machines, more particularly to automatic 4washing machines intended for commercial use, and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a washing machine Kwhich incorporates a novel means of supplying water to and remo-ving water from the washer `barrel while the machine is in operation.

Second, to provide a washing machine wherein a rotatable washer barrel is mounted in a nonrotating housing structure, wherein the inner or back side of the washer barrel is sealed with respect to the housing to exclude water from driving means surrounding the Washer barrell, wherein a Water-receiving compartment is formed behind the washer barrel to collect the used water for drainage, and wherein fresh water is supplied to the washer barrel through a central perforated tube.

Third, to provide a washing machine having a circulating system externally of the washer barrel whereby the Water may be continuously filtered and to which appropriate `chemicals may lbe added and the temperature regulated.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front View of the Washing machine shown in its washing position;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view thereof taken through 2 2 of FIGURE l with lthe base structure shown fragmentarily and with portions shown in elevation.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken through 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing one form of Washer barrel having separate compartments;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail View of one of the rib members;

FIGURE 5 is a side View of the washing machine taken from 5-'5 of FIGURE 1 with the instrument and control panel assembly removed, and showing the base structure fragmentarily;

FIGURE 6 is a fragment-ary sectional view showing the rear end of a modified form of washer barrel;

FIGURE 7 is a reduced, transverse, sectional view of a modified form of the washer barrel shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front view of the washer barrel shown in FIGURE 2, showing the divided inner door therefor;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail view of the latch member for the door shown in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE l is a fragmentary side view similar to FIG- URE showing by solid lines the unloading position of the `washer barrel with the outer door open, and indicating fragmentarily by broken lines the operating position and loading positions of the washer;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional View substantially coinciding with FIGURE 2, showing particularly the outer and inner door construction;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through 12-12 of FIGURE 9 showing the latch construction for the inner door;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional View of the outer door taken through 13-13 of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatical view showing the washer barrel, the water and chemical supply means, the filter system, and testing means for control of the fire composition and temperature of the water circulated in the Washer barrel;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary sectional view of the U- tube testing means.

Reference is first directed principally to FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 5. The Iwashing machine includes -a base structure 1 of generally rectangular construction. At one end is mounted an instrument panel and control assembly 2. Mounted on the base structure is an outer housing 3, which is rectangular in front aspect and essentially oval or egg-shaped in side aspect, with a flattened front side 4. The underside of the housing 3 is provided adjacent its front side with laterally extending stub shafts mounted in bearings which form fulcrum means 5.

The back side of the outer housing 3 above its center line is provided with a cross bar 6 to which is attached a tilting unit 7 comprising a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and thrust shaft which extends into the base structure 1 and is pivotally connected thereto -at its lower end.

Mounted within the housing 3 is a Washer barrel 8 comprising a cylindrical rear portion 9 and a conical forward portion 10. The forward or smaller end of the conical portion 10 protrudes through an opening provided in the front side 4 of the outer housing 3 and is provided with a reinforcing flange 11. The forward side of the cylindrical portion 9 is reinforced by an annular track 12 which rests on a pair of rollers 13 provided in the lower lateral corners of the housing 3, as shown best in FIGURE 3.

The rear side of the cylindrical portion 9 is closed by .a back wall 14. Spaced from the back wall is a partition 15 which is provided at its rear side with a bracket 16 on which is mounted a bearing 17. A tubular shaft 18 is secured to the back wall 14 of the cylindrical portion 9 and extends coaxially therewith through the bearing 17. The tubular shaft 18 is joined to an inlet or supply line 19 through a conventional rotatable packing gland 20.

Adjacent the rear end of the cylindrical portion 9 the housing 3 is provided with an internal ilange 21. Mounted on the cylindrical portion 9 is la yieldable annular seal ring 22 which engages the flange 21. The flange 21,

seal ring 22, and back wall 14 form the forward wall,

and the partition 1S forms the rearward wall of a discharge chamber 23 having an outlet 24 at the lower side of the housing 3.

Hinged to the partition 15 is a tiltable partition 25 which conforms substantially to the bottom and lateral walls of the discharge chamber 23, and is movable so that its lower side tends to restrict the outlet 24 so as to control the rate of discharge water through the outlet. The tiltable partition 25 is actuated by a lever system 26 and a hydraulically or pneumatically operated unit 27.

Water is discharged from the washer barrel 8 through a band of outlet holes 14a provided in the outer peripheral portion of the back wall 14. The washer barrel is provided internally with a plurality of hollow perforated ribs 28, which extend to the back wall, and may overlie some of the outlet holes 14a; or, if desired, the outlet holes 14a may be grouped so as to be in registry only with the hollow ribs 2S.

The washer barrel 8 is rotated by means of a multiple belt drive 29 which extends outwardly through a lateral opening 30 in the housing 3 so as to be driven by a motor 31 mounted on a bracket 32. In order to minimize the size of the opening 30 and to improve the operation of the belt drive 29, an idler roller 33 is provided.

Reference is now directed to FIGURES 2, 3, 4, 1l, l2, and 13 which illustrate one form of the washer barrel 8 in which a partition is provided to divide the washer barrel into two compartments. The partition designated 34 exspaanse "9 tends forwardly from the back wall and divides the washer barrel into two compartments of equal size. Formed in the partition 34 is an axially extending distributor tube 3S which communicates with the hollow or tubular shaft 18 and is perforated so that water may be discharged equally into both compartments.

The forward edge of the partition 34 is provided with a hinge 36 which supports a semi-circular door 37. The door may be moved to either side vof the partition to close either compartment of the washer barrel 8. The door is provided with a latch 38 which includesa pair of handle disks 39 and 40 on opposite sides of the door joined by a shaft 41. One disk 39 is provided with a latch tongue 44 which engages either one of diametrically disposed keeper .grooves 43 provided in the reinforcing flange 11. The other disk 48 is provided with a tongue 42 having a perforation which engages a rivet head 45 in the door so as to facilitate location of the latch 38 in its operative position. Both disks 39 and 4d have recesses therein so that either disk may be grasped and turned to move the tongue 42 into or out of either keeper groove 43.

Reference is now directed to FIGURES 6 and 7. If it is desired to utilize the washer barrel 8 as a single compartment, the back wall 14 is provided with radiating tubes 46 which communicate with a selected set of the hollow perforated ribs Z8. In this case, the area of the back wall behind these ribs is not perforated.

Both constructions are provided wtih an automatic door 47. The automatic door includes an annular frame 48 form-ing a channel in which is mounted a yieldable seal ring 49. The seal ring 49 engages a seal ring 58 which is secured to the reinforcing flange 11. The seal ring 56 may be provided with annular ribs 51.

The annular frame 48 is joined to a series of spokes 52 which extend inwardly and are joined to a stub shaft 53. The spokes are encased by an inner transparent wall 54, preferably formed of glass, and an outer transparent wall 55, preferably formed of plastic material. Thus the Vinner wall 54 is capable of withstanding the temperatures present within the washer barrel 8, and the outer wall 55 provides mechanical safety.

The stub shaft 53 is mounted in a bearing 56 which is connected through a yieldable mounting pad 57 to a channel-shaped cross Vbar 58 which extends horizontally across the front end of the housing 3. The cross bar 58 protrudes beyond the ends of the housing 3.

A pair of upper struts 59 and a pair of lower struts 6@ are joined to the ends of the cross bar 58 at pivot points 61 and 62, and are joined to the ends of the outer housing 3 at pivot points 63 and 64. The pivot points 63 and 64 are located above the pivot points 61 and 62, and are so related to each other that the automatic door 47 swings outwardly, clear of the front side 4 of the outer housing 3, to a tilted position above the outer housing, as shown best in FIGURES and l0.

The lower struts 60 are provided with lever arms 65 continuing from the pivot points 64. The extremities of the arms 65 are connected to cables 66, which pass over pulley wheels 67 and are attached to springs 68, which in turn are attached to turnbuckles 69 pivotally connected to anchors 70 located on the base structure 1. Also connected to the lower struts 66 at a position relative to the pivot points 64, opposite from the lever arms 65, are struts 71.

Each strut 71 comprises a sleeve 72 and an extensible rod 73. The lower ends of the sleeves 72 are pivotally supported on the base structure 1 by brackets 74. The extensible structures 71 function to raise the automatic door 47 when the rear end of the outer housing 3 is tilted downward. The cables 66 and springs 68 serve to raise the automatic door 47 when the rear end of the outer housing 3 is tilted upward. During this movement, the struts 71 may extend. Stops 75 limit upward movement of the automatic door 47, as shown in FIGURE l0.

Reference is now directed to FIGURE 14 in which is indicated diagrammatically the control mechanism housed principally in the instrument panel and control assembly. The inlet line 19 is connected through .a pump 76 to a 'lter tank 77. A discharge line 78 connected with .the outlet 24 also communicates -with Athe lter tank 77. The lter tank is provided with a suitable overflow 79.

Interposed between the inlet line and outlet line connections to the iilter tank 77 is a filter screen 80 which divides the tank into an upstream compartment 81 and a downstream compartment 82. The downstream compartment contains water which has been iiltered lthrough the filter screen 80, whereas the lupstream compartment contains unfiltered water.

The upstream compartment 81 of the lter tank 77 is provided with a -drain valve S3, and another drain Valve 84 is provided in the discharge line 78 prior to its entry into the filter tank. A steam line 85 extends into the downstream compartment 82 of the tank. A branch line 86 extends from the steam line 85 and terminates in a filter cleaning manifold 87 located behind the screen 89. A valve 88 is provided in this line.

It is `desired to supply hot and cold water as well as Various chemicals to 'the downstream compartment 82. Hot and cold water are supplied through valves 89 and 90 and a discharge line 91.

Suitably located above the filter tank 77 is a series of chemical reservoirs (not shown) for liquid chemicals.

-the downstream compartment 82, one or more dump Ibuckets 94 may tbe provided. The valves 89, 90, and 92 as well as the dump bucket or buckets 94 are arranged for remote control, and thus may be solenoid valves or hydraulically operated valves. This is also true of the drain valves y83 4and 84. Suitable control buttons to operate these valves are provided on the front of the instrument panel.

It is desirable, in the course of operating the washing machine to test -the wa-ter circulated therethrough. For ,this purpose there is provided a test unit which includes a U-tu-be 95, one leg of which is exposed at the front of the panel 2. The U-tube is disposed over a funnel 96 so that the contents of the U-tube may discharge into the funnel and into a -drain line 97 leading from lthe funnel to the 4discharge line 78. A by-pass line 98 leads from the discharge line 78 through -a pump 99 and discharges into lone leg ofthe U-tube 95.

Disposed over the other leg of the U-tube is a chemical reservoir 100 having a discharge 4tip controlled by a valve 181 for ldischarge of chemical into the other leg of the Utube. For purposes of comparison, a referenee tube 102 is mounted in the instrument panel 2 `beside the visible leg of the U-tube 95.

Operation of Vthe washing machine is as follows:

Por purposes of loading ,the Washing machine, the rear end is pulled downward by the tilting unit 7 so that `the front side 4 is inclined upwardly, as indicated by broken lines in FIGURES 5 and l0. Movement of the housing 3 to the loading position causes the struts 71 to push on the lever arms 65 and pivot the automatic door 47 to a position above the outer housing 3. In vthis manipulation of the automatic door, the cables 66 have no function.

After loading, the housing 3 is `tilted to its horizontal position by means of the tilting unit 7. This movement permits the door -to swing by gravity to its closed posiltion, such las shown in FIGURES 2, 5, and 12. While in its horizont-al position, lthe washer barrel 8 is rotated and water is circulated for purposes of washing, rinsing, and, if desired, water extraction.

After completion of the operating cycle, the `til-ting unit 7 rai-ses the rear end of the outer housing 3 to Itilt the washer barrel 8 forwardly and downward to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 10. During this movement, the struts 71 do not function, but the cables 66 acting over pulleys 67 function to ltilt the automatic door 47 to the solid line position shown in FIGURE 10. This is substantially the same position relative to the housing 3 yas was accomplished by the struts 71 when the housing was tilted to its loading position.

If the washer barrel 8 contains only a single compartment, Such as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the barrel may be rotated slowly to facili-tate discharge of its contents. I-f the washer barrel is divided into compartments, suitable means (not shown) is .provided so that the washer barrel tends to stop with the partition in a horizontal position, with either compartment uppermost, in this case fthe manual door 37 is moved from one position to the other to permit removal of the contents.

During the washing or operating cycle, water is fed into the washer barrel 8 through the tubular shaft 18 and discharged from the barrel through the outlet holes 14a into the chamber 23. 'The water flows to the filter tank 77, through the discharge line 78, and is filtered, then returned to the washer. Steam may be added in the Washer through the downstream compartment 82 so as -to maintain the water at the Selected temperature.

While hot or mixed hot and cold water may also be added, the use of steam offers the advantage that the overall volume is not materially increased and the chemicals present are not diluted. Initially, however, the water is supplied through the hot -and cold water valves. The rate at which the water is drained from the washer barrel 8 is determined by the tiltable partition 25 which acts Ias a throttle valve.

Prior to the operating cycle or during the operating cycle appropriate chemicals are supplied to the water. It is important to test the water at frequent intervals, and this is made possible by the testing unit. The pump 99, which has an extremely small capacity, forces water through the U-tube 95 to yiiush the tube prior to test. After the pump is stopped, the liquid in the tube reaches a predetermined level, as indicated in FIGURE 15, whereupon a testing chemical is supplied through the valve 101. The dimensions of the U-tube 95 are such that the testing chemical may be supplied drop by drop until the color indication in the visible leg of the U-tube corresponds to the color in the reference tube 102.

The amount of chemical that need be added determines the amount of alkali or acid, the latter referred to by the industry as sour, to alter the desired pH value of the water.

The drain valve 83 permits drainage of the entire system including the filter tank 77 when it is desired to replenish the Water completely. This is done after each washing cycle. During the rinsing cycle, make-up water may be supplied through the hot and cold valves 89 and 90 and the water drained from the discharge line through the `valve 84. Also during an extraction cycle, if the washer is so employed, the drain valve S4 is opened, or both valves 83 and 84 may be opened to speed the draining operation.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details of the constructions set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications, and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine, comprising: a housing structure; a rotatable Washer barrel having circular side walls, an open front wall and a back wall, said back Wall having a peripheral ring of exit perforations, said side walls having a plurality of axially directed perforated hollow ribs, certain of said exit perforations being in registry with said ribs for flow of vwater through said ribs and out of said exit perforations; a perforated inlet duct extending along .the longitudinal axis of said washer barrel; means including a tubular shaft coaxial with said washer barrel and said inlet duct for journaling said washer barrel within said housing structure; means including said rear wall and a partition in said housing structure forming a discharge chamber; means forwardly of said chamber and isolated therefrom for rotatably supporting lthe forward end of said barrel in said housing structure; and a water circulating system external of said housing structure connected with said tubular shaft and said discharge chamber.

2. A Washing lmachine as set forth in claim l, wherein: said washer barrel is provided with a diametrioally disposed partition which divides said washer barrel into two compartments, said inlet yduct is interposed in said partition for discharge of water into both of said compartments, and a semicircular door closes the forward end of either of said compartments.

3. A washing machine, comprising: a housing structure, open at one end; a rotatable washer barrel having an open `outer end in registry with the open end of said housing structure; `a circular track and roller means journaling said washer barrel in said housing structure; means forming a sealing connection between the inner end of said washer barrel and said housing structure to exclude water from said track and roller means; a partition behind said sealing means forming with the inner end of said washer barrel a water-receiving compartment; means for discharge of water from said waterreceiving compartment; `a tubular shaft for rotating said washer barrel and forming a water inlet thereto, said barrel having an apertured inner wall for discharge of water into said Water-receiving compartment.

4. A Washing machine, comprising: a housing structure of generally spherical form and having a truncated forward open end normally disposed in 4a vertical plane; tilting journals for said housing structure disposed adjacent to and below said opening whereby said housing str-ucture may be tilted between a clothes-receiving and a clothes-discharging position; a rotatable washer barrel having an open outer end in registry with the open end of said housing structure; circular track and roller means journaling said washer barrel in said housing structure; means forming a sealing connection between the inner end of said washer barrel and said housing structure to exclude water from said track land roller means; a partition behind said sealing means for-ming with the inner end of said washer barrel a water-receiving compartment; means for discharge of water from said water-receiving compartment; a tubular shaft for rotating said washer barrel and forming a vwater inlet thereto, said barrel having an -apertured inner wall for discharge of water into said water-receiving compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,002,929 Pohlmann Sept. 2, I1911 1,357,499 Hunt Nov. 2, 1920 1,589,668: Stelter June 22, 1926 1,631,266 Hasha June 7, 1927 2,243,325 Windell lMay 27, 1941 2,289,515 Mathews I-uly 14, 1942 2,313,152 Jorgensen Mar. 9, y1943 2,381,760 Latham Aug. 7, 1945 2,426,455 Jorgenson Aug. 26, 1947 2,428,489 Goodreau Oct. 7, 1947 2,446,502 Wehrli Au-g. 3, l1948 y2,540,431 Davis i Feb. 6, 1951 2,575,673 Miller Nov. 20, 1951 2,667,777 Kling Feb. 2, 1954 2,828,862 Johnson Apr. 1, 1958 

